Driving through the sleepy towns of Nicaragua makes it hard to believe the country was fighting a vicious civil war throughout most of the ’80s. Is the passive demeanor found today the hangover from nearly a decade of conflict? Or is just the way it’s always been? Traveling south from Managua to San Juan Del Sur was a long drive, but it showed the natural beauty the country has to offer.
With offshore winds and a wave to be found almost every day of the year, San Juan is no stranger to surf tourism. Several surf schools and shops are scattered around its vibrant buildings, and many fishermen are willing to take you to the more remote breaks via boat. A number of ex-pats have called San Juan home, and a few like Dyani Makous have decided to stay and help the locals deal with the influx of tourism. Dyani started the Barrio Planta Project, a non-profit school teaching English, arts, and skills necessary to prepare the locals for the future.
